As I have detailed elsewhere on this blog my mother’s brother, my Uncle Paul, died heroically in the largest naval battle in history. You can read about it here: Paul H. Carr inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. For his heroic action he had a missile frigate named after him, the USS Paul H. Carr, FFG-52. He has also been inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. There are several books of naval history that include his story. Obviously, having a Navy ship named after a family member is a great honor, and all the family is rightly very proud of it. There is also a movement afoot to have one of the new class of missile frigates named after him. Hopefully, that comes to past.
I have several USS Carr hats, a couple shirts, etc. I wore them for years to honor my uncle. A few years past I stopped wearing them as it had become very fashionable to thank veterans. I became very tired of people coming up to me and thanking me for my service. More than a few wanted to shake my hand, something I am not comfortable with in the best of circumstances. I did not want to pretend to serve when I had not. I also did not want to get into a discussion with a stranger in the middle of Walmart, testing their patience and mine, as to why I wore the hat. So I stopped.
So now I pick when and where I wear the hats. I have decided that wearing them to anti-Trump rallies/demonstrations is an appropriate place.
I have no way of knowing what my Uncle Paul’s politics were or what they would have been had he survived the war. However, I suspect that as someone who gave his life fighting imperialism and fascism, could he know, he would be appalled by the current draft dodging occupant of the White House and what he is attempting to do to our country.
Since many my of my mother’s side of the family are Evangelical MAGAs, I also suspect they will not agree with me, but I see my wearing a USS Carr hat to these anti-Trump rallies as another way for my uncle to help fight another important battle against long odds. We do not need an incompetent, racist, wanna-be fascist sucking all the air out of the country, turning us into a second rate power ran by oligarchies, while the rest of us are begging for basic government supports and civil rights.
Although I worry a bit about politicizing such a thing, I will continue to wear these hats to the protests, let people think what they will. Perhaps it will help turn the tide of the horrible morass the country has fallen into. Hopefully, my uncle would be proud of me doing the little bit that I can to fight tyranny.
References (There is more out there, I am familiar with these):
- Book ~ Battle of Leyete Gulf
- Book ~ The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
- USS Carr Website
- Samuel B. Roberts Survivors Assoc.
- YouTube video – The Biggest Naval Battle Ever | Battle of Leyte Gulf